Title: Forgotten Allies
By : JMac
Rated: PG-13
Feedback: legolasstory@yahoo.com

********************************* 

 
Sometimes you cannot believe what you
see, you have to believe what you feel. 
And if you are ever going to have other
people trust you, you must feel that you
can trust them, too- - even when you're
in the dark. Even when you're falling." 
- Mitch Albom 

 
******************************** 
 
Chapter 16 
 
Colin left just before dawn to try and borrow a suitable car to 
drive to Bernhardi's. He had left in high spirits. The painting was 
in hand, they knew where Kate was, it was only a matter of time 
before he saw her again. Colin was clinging to hope because to 
do anything less would have driven him to madness. 
 
Elrond and Gandalf were awaiting his return when Colin walked 
through the door. His expression was a combination of 
amazement and worry. 
 
"You look as if you have seen a Balrog and are too entranced by 
the terrible beauty of its flaming wings to move," Gandalf 
commented, dryly. 
 
"We are too late," Colin said. "Kate and Legolas aren't at 
Bernhardi's anymore. They've escaped." 
 
Colin sat down upon the couch. Elrond and Gandalf waited for 
him to speak. "According to my contacts, two jewel thieves broke 
into Bernhardi's house and stole a priceless amulet. They 
attacked Bernhardi with a sword and left him for dead. And 
escaped into the woods." 
 
"Splendid!" Gandalf said. "If that is the case then they should be 
headed for the border." 
 
"Bernhardi's been stabbed," Colin said, shaking his head, as if he 
couldn't quite believe the news. 
 
"I told you Legolas was a great warrior," Gandalf said, patting 
Colin on the back. 
 
Colin shook his head. "He's not the one who attacked Bernhardi, 
Kate did." 
 
Elrond and Gandalf raised their eyebrows at his comment but 
said nothing. 
 
"If we hurry we may be able to catch them in Belfort before they 
try for the crossing," Gandalf said. "They were to contact a friend 
at the bed and breakfast there if they ran into trouble at the 
border." 
 
Elrond turned to Colin. "You and my sons often left from there. 
Can you and Kate get across the border?" 
 
"Of course," Colin said. "But it won't be easy. German's will be 
combing the countryside for them." Elrond's words registered 
with Colin and he asked, "You and Gandalf won't be coming with 
us?" 
 
"Not unless my sons are with me," Elrond said. 
 
"There's much to be done," Gandalf said, rising from the sofa. 
 
Elrond followed him from the room, but stopped at the door, 
turning back to see Colin. Elrond opened his mouth to berate him 
for wasting time, but his expression softened. "What is troubling 
you?" 
 
"I can't imagine my sister attacking anyone. Much less using a 
sword on a Nazi General," Colin said. "I didn't think she had it in 
her." 
 
"She is Aragorn's heir. She has it in her to defend that which she 
loves," Elrond said firmly. "As do you." 
 
With those words, Elrond retreated up the stairs, leaving Colin 
alone with his thoughts. 
 
**************************** 
 
Kate woke with a start. It took her a second to realize where she 
was and the events of yesterday came back in a rush. She closed 
her eyes, for a few fleeting seconds she had almost convinced 
herself the whole thing was a horrible nightmare. But it was 
worse than that, for it was a nightmare from which she couldn't 
awake. 
 
After standing up and dusting the dirt from the barn floor off her 
clothes, Kate looked around. Sunlight was pouring in through 
several holes in the ancient roof and Kate estimated it must be 
well after noon She had slept most of the day away, the sun was 
already falling low into the sky. 
 
She had been so exhausted last night, she barely remembered 
arriving at the barn. She only remember Legolas leading her to 
the corner of the room and urging her to sleep. 
 
Kate assumed Legolas must be hiding somewhere amid the 
rubble. She picked her way through the broken farm equipment 
and discarded crates that littered the floor. "Legolas?" she 
whispered. 
 
There was no answer. 
 
"Legolas?" Frantically, Kate searched through the bar, stumbling 
over debris but there was no sign of him anywhere. 
 
Kate was alone. 
 
The reality of her situation hit her like a physical blow. "He will be 
back," she said aloud. Kate took a deep breath and sat down. 
"And if he does not. . . . .? " 
 
Kate could not keep the panic from rising in her throat. After 
several long minutes Kate steeled her resolve. "Then I will go 
onto Switzerland alone." 
 
"Why should you go anywhere without me?" Legolas said, 
amused. He slipped into the barn through a hole in the wall and 
sat down beside her on the ground. He pulled an old crate over 
to use as a table. 
 
Kate glared at him. "Where did you go?" 
 
"I went to get food," Legolas said. He set down an assortment of 
bread and cheese, a bottle of wine and a map upon the crate. 
One glance at the food and all Kate's worries were forgotten. She 
was starving. It felt as if she hadn't eaten in at least three 
lifetimes. 
 
While they ate, Legolas unfolded the map. Switzerland seemed 
like an impossible far distance away. 
 
"It is too far to walk," Kate said, studying the map. 
 
"We cannot take the train," Legolas said. "They will be looking for 
us there." 
 
Kate nodded. "We'll have to hitch a ride. . . or steal a car." 
 
"We will wait until dark to leave either way," Legolas said. 
 
Kate sighed and leaned back against the crate. Legolas stretched 
his long legs out in front of him. He stared at her a moment. 
 
"Did you think I was not coming back?" 
 
Kate shrugged. "I didn't know what to think. Only that I woke up 
and you were gone." 
 
"I am sorry. I thought I would be back before you woke," Legolas 
said. 
 
"You're forgiven," Kate said. 
 
"I would never leave you." His eyes caught hers and the intensity 
of his gaze held her entranced and she could not look away. He 
studied her, as if by staring long enough he would discover 
something about her he did not know. A blush crept into her face 
as he delicately traced the line of her cheek with his hand, down 
the curve of her neck, following a slow path down her arm until 
he reached her hand and his fingers intertwined with hers. 
 
In slow motion he leaned towards her. His lips brushed across 
hers. His kiss was like breath of fresh air on a spring day of trees 
in bloom and sweet tall green grass growing. He pulled her into 
his arms and she melted against him. 
 
Sunset came far too quickly. 
 
************************* 
 
In their stolen farm clothes, they had no trouble catching rides 
from other farmers passing through the area. They made it a 
point to lift their thumb only to trucks, so as to ride in the back 
where their accents could not be discovered. Kate spoke French 
but not well enough to pass for a local. 
 
Two enjoyable days passed. Kate and Legolas rode for the most 
part happily hidden within the backs of trucks watching as the 
French countryside and forests past by them. At night they would 
camp within the countryside, out of sight of the road. 
 
It wasn't until their third day of travel that they reached the 
mountains that wound along the borders between France and 
Switzerland. As the altitude climbed, the temperature dropped. 
And before they knew it, the shades of autumn gave way to 
winter. Their rides grew infrequent and the number of German 
patrol cars increased. 
 
Legolas lay upon the ground with his hands behind his head, 
gazing up at the stars. Kate was stretched out beside him. 
 
"I can't believe we'll make the border tomorrow," Kate said. 
 
"If we find a ride," Legolas reminded her gently. 
 
"I am certain that we will. Our papers are all in good order. If 
these farm clothes keep fooling people as they have so far, we 
shouldn't have a problem," Kate said. 
 
"They are working to our advantage," Legolas said. "Though I 
regret having to leave your dress behind." 
 
Kate laughed. "Forget about that dress. I like the flannel. It's 
snuggly." 
 
"Snuggly? I don't think I am familiar with that word," Legolas 
said. 
 
"You know- - - snuggly." 
 
Legolas shook his head. Kate sighed and scooted over beside him 
snuggling up against him. "Snuggly." 
 
"Ah. That is a word I will have to remember." 
 
"I bet." Kate said. 
 
For a while Legolas hummed a quiet song under his breath as 
they lay there in a companionable silence, gazing up at the stars. 
 
"Do you think she regretted it?" Kate asked. 
 
"Who?" Legolas asked. 
 
"Arwen. Do you think she regretted marrying Aragorn? I mean, 
she could have lived forever. I don't understand how she gave 
that up. Knowing that she would never see any of her people 
ever again. Even after. . she died," Kate said. 
 
"I have no way of knowing," Legolas said. "Death is known by 
some on my land as The Gift of Man." 
 
"I know that I wouldn't want to live forever," Kate said. "I would 
get. . . . tired of it all I think. There is only so much to see and to 
do before you have seen it all. How do you like it Legolas?" 
 
"I should have thought immortality a wonderful blessing had I 
never set foot upon Middle-Earth." 
 
"But since you have?" 
 
Legolas was quiet a long moment before he spoke, and when he 
did his voice was barely at a whisper. "I understand why Arwen 
chose the path she did." 
 
"You still miss your friends." 
 
"It is a hurt that will never heal, no matter how many ages rise 
and fall," Legolas said. 
 
"What happened to Gimli?" 
 
"The same thing that happens to you all. He grew old and died." 
 
"Are you sorry you came back?" Kate asked. 
 
"Not today." 
 
In the darkness she could see his eyes shining and a smile 
spread across his face. 
 
**************************** 
 
By noon of the next day they were 10 miles from the border. It 
had been shockingly easy to steal a car. The people in the nearby 
town were trusting sorts, after checking a few homes they had 
found one with the keys intact. This was a relief because Kate did 
not know a thing about hot wiring a car. The mountain roads 
however, were not a relief. Kate's knuckles were white from 
gripping the steering wheel. And the snow that had been falling 
since dawn did not help matters. 
 
As they weaved their way through the zigzagging curves, Kate's 
fear grew. Then they turned the corner and in the distance was 
the border. She could see freedom. It had been so long since she 
had felt truly safe that she wondered how freedom would feel to 
her after experiencing the reality of oppression. 
 
The border crossing looked innocent enough. Only high barbed 
wire fences and a guard rail divided German territory from the 
neutrality of Switzerland. Pacing at the road, were several armed 
German soldiers. 
 
"We will make it." Legolas said, as they got in line behind two 
other cars in front of them. 
 
The first car passed through with no incident, and the Nazi's 
approached the second car. Kate and Legolas watched as the 
soldier took the man's papers and read them over carefully, 
before handing them back to him. Then the soldier leaned in and 
spoke to the man a long moment. The man took off his winter 
hat and pulled the hair back from his ears. The solder checked 
them both, running his hand along the top of the man's ear 
before nodding at him and waving him through the border. Kate 
couldn't keep the gasp of shock from her mouth. As impossible 
as it seemed, the guards were checking for Elves. 
 
Without a word, Kate put the car into reverse and turned around. 
The soldier started yelling and rushed to their door. But Kate 
floored the accelerator and they shot off down the road out of 
their grasp. From her rear view mirror she saw the German's 
running to their jeep and knew it wouldn't be long before they 
would be in pursuit. Kate hoped to make the most of her lead but 
the slick roads had other plans and before she knew what was 
happening they slid off the road into the ditch. After two futile 
attempts at gunning the motor, they realized they were stuck. 
 
"Let's go," Legolas said. 
 
They ran into the woods. When they reached the cover of the 
forest Kate heard the Jeep fly past them and then seconds later 
the squeal of slamming breaks as the German's turned back 
around to get to their car. 
 
To Kate's surprise, Legolas abruptly stopped. Kate quit running 
and looked at him. He was staring back the way they had come. 
Though Legolas had made no footprints in the freshly fallen 
snow, Kate's footprints left a painfully obvious trail. One that 
would lead the German's right to them. 
 
"Can you drive their type of car?" Legolas asked. 
 
"Yes." 
 
"There are only two of them," Legolas said. He drew his daggers. 
"We will take their car and drive across the border." 
 
Legolas strained to hear the approaching German's but they did 
not come. Instead, another vehicle approached. A bigger vehicle. 
And within it, a battalion of soldiers. They were so loud, even 
Kate could hear the voices as the soldiers took instructions on 
the search. 
 
"There is help in Belfort," Legolas said. "We must run." 
 
"Belfort? That's 30 miles from here," Kate said. "You know I can't 
run that far. No matter what my lineage is, I am not an Elf." 
 
Legolas knew she was right. "We must try. We have no other 
choice." 
 
"Yes we do." Kate took the pendant from around her neck and 
pressed it into Legolas hand. 
 
"Take it to Gandalf," she said. Legolas looked at the pendant and 
back at her. When the full meaning of her words hit him, a look 
of horror crossed his face. 
 
"I will not leave you here," he said, holding the pendant out to 
her. She took a step away from his outstretched hand. 
 
"The German's can track my footprints from here to Belfort if 
they wished. It would only be matter of time before they caught 
us. But you can easily avoid detection," she said. "You must get 
the pendant to Gandalf. It is more important than either of us." 
 
Legolas said nothing. 
 
"Did you or did you not, pledge your loyalty to the house of 
Gondor and to the King?" Kate asked, standing up straight in 
what she thought was a pose of nobility. 
 
"I did," Legolas said, reluctantly. 
 
"And if Gondor was standing would I not be heir to the throne?" 
Kate said. 
 
"You cannot ask me to do this," Legolas said, his voice at a 
whisper. 
 
"I am not asking you to leave. I am ordering it," Kate said, 
desperately trying to keep the fear from her voice. 
 
Legolas stood motionless, his jaws clenched in fury as he tried to 
determine another way out of their predicament. The voices of 
German soldier's carried across the crisp cold air. 
 
"You know I'm right," Kate said. 
 
Legolas closed his eyes briefly as if trying to will reality to 
change. He opened them and looked down at her. 
 
He lowered his head and held the pendant out to her. She placed 
it around his neck. As she adjusted the pendant so it hung 
correctly, his hands closed over hers, and he pressed them to his 
chest. His face was a swirl of conflicting emotions. Kate's breath 
caught in her throat as her eyes met his. 
 
"A buiatha mi rien rin." he said. 
 
Before she could ask the meaning of the words, they heard 
voices, close by, as the German soldier's pushed their way 
through the tangled underbrush and picked up the trail of 
footprints. 
 
"Go," Kate said. She let go of his hands and gave him a gentle 
shove. Profound regret washed over his face for an instant before 
he turned from her and rushed quickly over the fallen snow. 
 
Once he was well within the cover of the forest, Legolas stopped 
to look back at her. Kate was not aware of the extent of his 
elvish sight and her brave expression had crumbled. Even from a 
great distance he could see her trembling as she awaited the 
German army. Contradicting every fiber of his being that begged 
him to place himself between her and danger, Legolas turned and 
ran deeper into the forest. 
 
**************************** 
 
Kate tried to still the rapid pounding of her heart, as the sound of 
the German's came closer. As their footsteps came within yards 
of her, she stepped from behind the tree determined to meet her 
fate with some measure of dignity. She rose her hands into the 
air and stared down the barrels of a half a dozen German rifle's. 
She found herself scanning the treeline, and silently chastised 
herself for looking for a rescue that she knew wouldn't come. 
After a flurry of German commands went unanswered, one 
soldier walked to her, his rifle trained on her. 
 
"Papers. Give me your papers," he said, in a thick accent. 
 
She reached a fumbling hand into her coat pocket for her English 
passport and letters of intent from the German headquarters in 
Paris. Her hands were shaking so badly she couldn't grab hold of 
them and the soldier walked to her and snatched them from her. 
He looked them over and stared at her again. 
 
"Come," he said, poking the rifle barrel in her back to get her 
walking. She stumbled through the snow and the underbrush 
back to the abandoned car. 
 
************************************* 
 
Legolas ran swiftly through the forest, as he had not run since 
he, Aragorn, and Gimli had crossed the Emyn Muil on the trail of 
Merry and Pippin. Hours stretched into one another and became 
a seamless blur of private torture for each step took him farther 
away from Kate. The pendant that hung from his neck felt like a 
lead weight, crushing his spirit. By the time he came to the 
outskirts of Belfort, the skies had began to turn grey in the 
morning twilight. An entire night had passed. And what that night 
held for Kate, he did not know. 
 
***************************** 
 
NOTE: Ok, quit screaming. I know, I know, I'm evil. Completely 
evil. What kind of person leaves everyone hanging with such a 
cliff hanger. Sorry.